Linden board accused of inaction

Friday

May 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - A Stockton labor law attorney says Linden Unified School District trustees have failed to act on an independent law firm's findings that Superintendent Michael Gonzales sexually harassed an elementary school principal.

Keith Reid

STOCKTON - A Stockton labor law attorney says Linden Unified School District trustees have failed to act on an independent law firm's findings that Superintendent Michael Gonzales sexually harassed an elementary school principal.

The district received a report signed by Lawyer Allen Vinson on March 19, stating that Gonzales committed sexual flirtations, inappropriate comments, and made overly personal conversations or pressure for sexual activity. He also made unwelcome physical contact that could have included massaging, grabbing or fondling, according to the report.

Vinson's report advises the Board of Trustees to address the issue at a March 20 board meeting. Osgood said the board has not fulfilled any action on the report.

"I've tried to settle this issue privately, but the board has done nothing," Osgood said.

Osgood said an arrangement was made for Pettis to continue working as Waverly's principal, but without any direct contact with Gonzales. The board never completed the arrangement, Osgood said, and Pettis went on medical leave citing stress from hostile work conditions

The allegations are emerging after more than a month of discord in Linden Unified, where parents have publicly protested on behalf of Pettis, called for Gonazles's resignation, and have twice kept their children out of school as a statement to district officials - and adding up to thousands of dollars lost in state attendance funding.

Osgood said he has filed a right-to-sue notice with the Department of Employment and Fair Housing that notes how officials have ignored evidence that Gonzales has made unwanted sexual advances toward Pettis.

The Department of Employment and Fair Housing said record of Osgood's filing has not yet registered in their system.

Gonzales did not return multiple phone calls from The Record on Thursday. Trustee President Clay Titus would not confirm or deny the Trujillo & Vinson report or that trustees have not taken requested action to ensure Pettis did not have to communicate with the superintendent.

Many in the Linden Unified community have boiled with rage over complaints that Gonzales has created a hostile work environment for employees and driven away administrators. Parents have pleaded with trustees for answers as to why Gonzales hasn't been placed on administrative leave given the allegations against him, which not only include sexual harassment but further concerns that Gonzales does not possess the proper credentials to be a superintendent.

Parents fumed at a special board meeting May 7 when trustees were required to approve a $10,000 consultant's fee to make sure district business is done as chief business officer Corey Reihl is out on medical leave. Parents believe Reihl's leave is related to the district's dysfunction.

Pettis' complaint is one of at least two to be filed with the Department of Employment and Fair Housing.

Linden Elementary Principal Sharon Womble also filed a complaint claiming her employment is being terminated out of retaliation after she filed a sexual harassment complaint against Gonzales on behalf of a teacher.

Both complaints will likely lead to lawsuits, the principals' attorneys have said.

Parent groups have been vocal to board members as well as the community. On Thursday a group orchestrated a district wide "sick out" - the second time in a month that kids were held home from school. More than 100 students stayed home from Waverly on Thursday. District officials did not return phone calls Thursday seeking a districtwide attendance total.

Goforth said she and other parents are outraged that the district has not given them any answers. She said the community sees a clear divide among the Board of Trustees and a general dysfunction in how the district is handling complaints against the superintendent. "We as parents are having to investigate this," Goforth said. "Why are we doing this and not the board?"Kuthe said a quick Internet search would allow anybody to find superintendents in other districts placed on leave under the pressure of lesser allegations.

"If the board supports Gonzales, then they need to stand up and tell us why," Kuthe said.

Titus said trustees are limited to what they can say in public regarding a personnel issue. He said speaking on behalf of himself, he is ready for the district to get back to teaching, and he is working hard to address all of the public's issues before school ends in late May.

"My number one focus always has been the well being and safety of kids and employees," Titus said. "I've said that 100 times in 100 different places."